Garment



W. A. BURKEY GARMENT May 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1954 fl W A TTORNEYS.

LL INVENTOR.

. W' [fa/12A BY J 66 W. A. BURKEY May 29, 1956 GARMENT Filed March 18, 1954 INVENTOR, I

74 2 unify/ivy, BY MA 2 z AfTORNEYS M y 1956 w. A. BURKEY GARMENT Filed March 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGL ]l INVENTOR. 172A W27! .3 key, BY- all 8 ATTORNEYS.

GARMENT William A. Burkey, Hamburg, Pa., assignor to liurkey Underwear Company, Hamburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417,026

16 Claims. (Cl. 66-177) This invention relates to garments. More specifically, it is concerned with garments of the trunk variety, particularly garments ordinarily known as shorts or briefs. v

My'invention is directed toward the provision of a garment of the kind referred to which is light in weight; which is easily and quickly donned or removed; which is snug fitting and yet comfortable; which yields readily to allow easy breathing and free leg movement with avoidance of any binding likely to cause chafing; and which, with al, can be produced in quantity at relatively small cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

. Fig. l is a perspective view of an undergarment con veniently embodying my invention and showing it as it would appear when on the body of the wearer.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with a portion of the garment broken out at the rear.

Fig. 3 shows the garment flattened out and as seen from the front.

Fig. 4 shows the garment flattened out and as seen from the rear.

' Figs. 5 and 6 respectively show front and rear fabric panels which, as hereinafter more fully disclosed, are seamed together to form the garment.

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views illustrating successive steps in the formation of the garment.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary diagrammatic detail view in section taken as indicated by the angled arrows IX-IX in Fig. 2.

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary diagrammatic detail sectional views drawn to a larger scale and taken as indicated respectively by the angled arrows XX and XI--XI in Fig. l; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the construction within the confines of the brokenline rectangle XII in Fig. l.

As exemplified in these drawings, my improved garment comprises front and rear panels 15 and 16 which are separately illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively, both being plain knitted in practice as flat-knitted fashioned selvage edged webs on a straight knitting machine of the Cotton" type from resilient spun reverse twist yarns commonly known as Helanca yarns of which the staple may be of nylon, Orlon, Dacron or other synthetic fibers.

As shown in Fig. 5, the upper portion 17 of the front panel 15 is rectangular and parallel side-edged down to the course aa and is formed with a tubular welt 18 at the top, a shorter abruptly tapered medial portion 19 down to a course bb, and a short parallel edged bottom extension 20 terminating in course c-c. The portion 19 is shaped by progressive transfer of marginal loops inwardly from opposite side edges. During the knitting of the upper portion of the front panel 15, a reinforced Wale-wise stripe area 17a is formed centrally thereof by nited States Patent 0 ice . down to the course ee as the upper portion of the front panel 15 and is likewise formed with a tubular welt at the top as at 22. The succeeding portion 23 of the rear panel 16 is considerably longer and tapered downwardly more gradually than the corresponding portion 19 of the front panel, to the course f--f, likewise by progressive inward transfer of selvage loops from opposite side edges.

Following the area 23 is a short parallel side edged area 24 whereof the width is considerably less than that of the corresponding portion 20 of the front panel 15, said area terminating at the course gg. Beyond the course g-g is a flaring area 25 which is shaped by progressive outward transfer of marginal edge loops at a rate corre-, sponding to the rate at which the portion 23 is narrowed, said area 25 being substantially equal in length to the area 24 and terminating in the course hh. The final or bottom area 26 of the rear panel 16 is tapered by inward transfer of edge margins at the same rate as in the area 23 and terminates in the course iz'. Side edge margins 21a of the upper area 21 of the rear panel 16 are reinforced and said panel is also reinforced downward portion of the rear panel 16, said tail portion being of a length substantially equal to that of the intermediate portion 23.

To complete the garment the front panel 15 is superimposed upon the rear panel 16 as shown in Fig. 7 and the upper area 17 of the former brought into coincidence with the upper area 21 of the latter, whereuponthe matching parallel side edge segments are seamed together as conventionally indicated at 29 in Figs. 1-4 and 7. Incident to this seaming, an elastic belt strip 30 of Lastex or the like is inserted into the continuous waist channel formed by joinder of the welts 18 and 22 of the two panels as in Fig. 12 and made fast by yielding stitching 31. Either before or immediately after the operation just described, finishing tape 32 of knitted material like that of the panels is applied about the bottom terminal edge c--c of the front panel 15 and made fast by elastic stitching as indicated at 33 in Fig. 9; and a similar strip 35 is continuously applied about the terminal course iz' and sloping edge segments 36 of the area 26 of panel 16 and made fast by yielding stitching as indicated at 37 in Fig. 10.

With the foregoing accomplished, the tail portion of the rear panel 16 comprising the areas 24, 25 and 26, is turned upward about the course f and overlaid upon the front panel 15 as shown in Fig. 8 whereby the course bh of panel 16 will fall into coincidence with course bb of panel 15, with incidental formation of leg holes 38 bounded by the edge segments 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the two panels. The taped edge portions of the tail of the rear panel are next sewed fast by stitching, as at 43 in Fig. 10, to the front panel except between the points 44 and 45 in Figs. 1 and 3 to leave an access opening adjacent one of the leg holes 38 at the front of the garment. Finally, tape material 46, such as already described, is applied about the peripheral edges of the leg holes 38 and made fast by yielding stitching as conventionally indicated at 47 in Fig. 11. From Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noted that the reinforced strip area 17a of the front panel 15 meets with the upwardly lapped reinforced extension or tail portion of the rear panel. As a consequence of these reinforcements, the garment is strengthened crosswise of the crotch between the leg holes as well as up the front, with capacity for increased moisture absorption throughout the reinforced region.

Due to being knitted from resilient yarn, the garment readily adapts itself to the body of the wearer, its contractive characteristics being light however so that it is worn without attendant discomfort, the elastic waist band 30 at the top thereof assisting to effectively hold it in place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a garment of the trunk variety comprising an integrally-knitted fiat fashioned selvage-edged rear fabric panel having a rectangular upper portion, a somewhat longer downwardly tapering intermediate portion and a narrow tail portion of a length equal substantially to that of the intermediate portion; an integrally-knitted flat fashioned selvage-edgedfront fabric panel having an upper rectangular portion corresponding in shape and size to upper portion of the front panel, and a shorter abruptly tapered portion, said front panel being superimposed upon the rear panel with its rectangular upper portion coinciding with the upper poition of the rear panel, and the tail portion of the rear panel being lapped upwardly over upon the front panel; stitching uniting the matching side edges of the upper portions of the two panels; and stitching connecting the edges of the lapping portion of the rear panel to the front panel, with attendant provision of leg holes at opposite sides of the garment.

2. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the edges of the lapping portion of the tail of the rear panel are sewed to the front panel partway only at one side to leave an access opening adjacent one of the leg openings.

3. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear panels are formed with tubular welts which jointly provide a continuous waist channel at the top of the finished garment; and wherein an elastic belt band is enclosed within said waist channel.

4. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the panels are both knitted from resilient spun yarn.

5. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the panels are of knitted fabric, and wherein the extended tail portion of the rear panel is reinforced throughout by use of an additional yarn in the knitting.

6. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the panels are of plain knitted fabric, and wherein the extended tail portion of the rear panel is reinforced throughout by use of an additional yarn in the knitting; wherein the front panel has a similarly reinforced medial area which extends down from the top of said panel and merges with the lapping reinforced tail portion of the rear panel.

7. A garment according to claim 1, wherein both panels are knitted from resilient reverse twisted spun yarn.

8. A garment according to claim 1, wherein both panels are knitted from resilient reverse twisted yarn, and wherein the leg holes are bound with tape of like material secured by yielding stitching.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a garment of the trunk variety comprising an integrally-knitted flat fashioned selvage-edged rear fabric panel having a rectangular upper portion, a somewhat longer downwardly-tapering intermediate portion with complementally-sloped side edges, and a tail portion consisting of a relatively short narrow parallel side edged area, a correspondingly short flaring area with side edges sloped complementally to the side edges of the aforesaid intermediate portion, and a tapered bottom area with side edges inclined in correspondence with those of the intermediate portion; an integrally-knitted flat fashioned selvage-edged front fabric panel having an upper rectangular portion corresponding in size and shape to the upper portion of the rear panel, and a following abruptly-tapered shorter portion, the front panel being superimposed upon the rear panel with its rectangular portion coinciding with the upper portion of the rear panel, and the tail portion of the rear panel being lapped upwardly over upon the front panel; stitching uniting the matching side edges of the upper portions of the two panels; and stitching connecting the edges of the lapping portion of the tail of the rear panel to the front panel, with attendant provision of leg holes at opposite sides of the garment.

10. A garment according to claim 9, wherein the edges of the lapping portion of the tail of the rear panel are sewed to the front panel partway only at one side to leave an access opening adjacent one of the leg openings.

11. A garment according to claim 9, wherein the front and rear panels are formed with tubular welts which jointly provide a continuous waist channel at the top of the finished garment; and wherein an elastic belt band is enclosed within said channel.

12. A garment according to claim 9, wherein the panels are both knitted from resilient spun yarn.

13. A garment according to claim 9, wherein the panels are of plain knitted fabric, and wherein the extended tail portion of the rear panel is reinforced throughout by use of an additional yarn in the knitting.

14. A garment according to claim 9, wherein the panels are of plain knitted fabric, and wherein the extended tail portion of the rear panel is reinforced throughout by use of an additional yarn in the knitting; wherein the front panel has a similarly reinforced medial area which extends down from the top of said panel and merges with the reinforced lapping tail portion of the rear panel.

15. A garment according to claim 9, wherein both panels are knitted from resilient reverse twisted yarn.

16. A garment according to claim 9, wherein both panels are knitted from resilient reverse twisted yarn and wherein the leg holes are bound with tape of like material secured by yielding stitching.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,999 Kneibler Jan. 6, 1942 411,113 Templeman Sept. 17, 1889 416,615 Holmes Dec. 3, 1889 2,555,974 Katterman June 5, 1951 2,653,463 Crimmins Sept. 29, 1953 2,706,389 Garrou et al Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,144 Great Britain June 22, 1936 800,566 Germany Nov. 1, 1950 

